Finding your wellness tribe

Our theme for this month at Enrich is Cultivate. At this time of year, we see cultivation all around us in the natural world, as fields are being prepared to create optimal conditions for growth. We are taking inspiration from this process and starting to think about how we can develop an environment that produces our best growth. How can we consciously create conditions that make achieving our wellness goals a clear and easy choice? One place to start is by utilising the power of connection.

The influence and quality of your social connections might not be something that you consider immediately when it comes to your personal wellbeing, but it is essential. We as human beings are hardwired for connection, and there is significant research to show that having close, high-quality relationships in your life is beneficial for health. This extends further than just our emotional wellbeing, into our physical health. The quality of connections in our lives has been shown to be a key determinant of health, meaning it is a non-medical factor that can influence health outcomes. Social disconnection has been linked to several physical health problems, such as higher incidence of Type 2 diabetes, higher susceptibility to colds, and increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. On the reverse, higher social connectedness has been associated with longevity, greater levels of self-esteem, and lowered anxiety and depression. Building a strong network around us can help us to cultivate an environment where we can make our wellbeing into apriority.  

But why is the power of our social connection so important? What is it about having people around us that helps us to create an environment for greater wellbeing?

Fun is seriously good for you

Taking care of our health can seem like very serious business. Of course, it is vitally important in our lives, but the focus can be weighted towards avoidance of negative outcomes (‘I don’t want to be sick, I don’t want to be stressed’). Being with people we enjoy spending time around can help us to shift our perspective and allow us to actively enjoy the process of taking care of ourselves. Think about cooking a nutritious meal for your family – the pleasure is increased if we can spend time with a loved one in the kitchen, learning something new together and seeing the enjoyment of delicious and nourishing food. It can also help us to bring more movement into our life – for example, going to dance with friends to our favourite music instead of needing to go for a structured run.

Creating environments which prioritise fun can help us to form new habits, thanks to the release of dopamine. This ‘feel-good hormone’ is designed to reward us when we engage in beneficial behaviours, helping us to seek more of that feeling. Increasing the fun in our lives can also act as a restorative element against the stressors that we may be experiencing.  

Who’s influencing you?

The people you spend the most time with can have a profound influence on your thoughts, attitudes and behaviours. When you are wanting to build some wellness habits into your life, it can help to think about what kind of people make you feel inspired, confident and supported. If you figure out what kind of habit you want to build, you can then begin to actively cultivate a group of people where this habit is already established. This can take many different forms, from a local running club to an online group. And if you can think of someone who inspires you with their healthy cooking, don’t be afraid to ask, and form your own community!

Use accountability to keep you on track

Increasing our accountability can be an extremely effective way to achieve our goals. Speaking our goals out loud, as well as finding someone who is going in the same direction, can significantly change our progress. Having someone in your corner on days where you just don’t want to take the next step, as well sharing the problems that can come up along the way, can be a huge source of support and encouragement. Plus, when you achieve goals together, the joy increases thanks to a shared sense of accomplishment. And of course, it brings in the fun (and maybe even a little challenge) that we know can be highly motivational.